Heel-trimming machine



April 20,1926.

W. J. SHAW HEEL TRIMMING- MACHINE Filed July 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig 1 lNYfiNTOR MM m A TTORNE Y W. J SHAW HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE FiledJuly 10 192 3 Sheets-5heet 2 F137 4 Fig 5 Wesley J Shaw .INVENT'OI? BY AATTORNEY April 20, 1926;

W. J. SHAW HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE Filed my 10, 1924 a Sheets-Sheet aWesley J Shawmvsyron Arron/vs) Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY J. SI-IAvV, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NEW ENGLANDWOOD HEEL 00., OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA-CHUSETTS.

Application filed. July 10,

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, WESLEY J. SHAW, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and a resident of Haverhill, in the county of Essex andCommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Heel-Trimming Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention. while having general fields of usefulness, ismore particularly related to heel-trimming machines.

' v The invention will be more fully explained in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front (316"51131011, partlyin longitudinal, vertical section upon the line 1-1 .of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows, of a machine constructed according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan of thesame; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 4 is a. sideelevation of a preferred cutter guard; Fig. 5 isa rear elevation of thesame; Fig. 6 is a section taken upon the line 6 6 of Fig. 4'; Fig. 7 isan enlarged horizontal section taken upon the line 7-7 of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a similarly enlargedelevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a horizontalsection taken upon the line 99 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction ofthe arrows; Fig. 10 is a view of a heel adapted to be trimmed by themachine of the present invention; and Fig. 11 is a section taken upontheline 1111 of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention that is hereinillustrated and described, the operator grasps a heel 2 in one hand, andmoves it from right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1, meanwhile turning theheel about a rotary cutter 4 along a curve 6. This results in trimmingfrom a leather sheet 8, that is nailed to the bottom of the heel, theportion that projects beyond the curve 6. Such leather sheets 8 areusually nailed to the bottoms of wood heels. During the trimmingoperation, the leather sheet 8 is guided along a plane guide 12. Theleft-hand upper portion of the heel shown in Fig. 1 would contact withthe shaft 14 to which the rotary cutter 4 is fast if the plane guide 12were in the same 1924. Serial. No. 725,133.

plane therewith. The plane guide 12 is therefore inclined to the shaft14 and to the plane of rotation of the cutter, as shown moreparticularly in Fig. 7, to prevent interference from the shaft 14. Theshaft 14 is mounted in ball-bearings 16 and 18 of a standard 20, and maybe driven by means of a pulley 22, an electric motor (not shown), or inany other desired manner.

Simultaneously with the trimming opera tion, the leather sheet 8 is,beveled by a stationary cutter 24 that projects beyond the plane of theplane guide 12. The sta tionary cutter is p-ivotally adjustable about apoint 30 by means of an adjusting screw 32 that extends through theplane guide 12 into contact with an arm 34 upon which the knife 24 iscarried. The adjusting screw 32, maybe held in adjusted position by aset screw 36. A coil spring 38, maintains the arm 34 in contact withvthe adjusting screw 32..

The relative positions of the cutters and of the plane guide 12 may beadjusted by pivotally adjusting the plane guide about a pivot 40. The,guide may be locked in adjusted position by a clamp 42. A projection 41fast to an extension 43 of. the guide 12 rides in, a groove 45 to guidethe pivotal movement of the guide about the pivot 40.

A gage 44, mounted in a groove 46 of the plane guide 12, cooperates withthe cutters, and may be adjusted to correspond to the adjustment of thecutter 24 by means of a clamping plate 48. The clamping plate may becaused to bind against the gage 44 by a clamping screw 50, as shown moreparticularly in. Fig. 9, or in any other desired manner.

The rotary cutter 4 is provided with a guard 52 that is more or lesstorus-shaped1 as shown more particularly in. Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Thisshape is admirably adapted to the type of trimming cutter 4, that isillustrated. The lower portion of the guard is cut away, as shown at 54,and terminates at av point near the plane guide 12. At this point,opposite to the effective cutting portion of the cutter 4, the uncutlower portion of the guard, near the plane guide 12, adjacent. to thecut-away portion 54, engages the leather sheet 8. If the guard were notcut at the portion 54, it would not be possible to move the leathersheet 8 into the cutter 4, which would prevent the trimming actionaltogether. It is at the cut-away portion 54 that access to the cutter 4is rendered possible. In order that the leather sheet 8 may reach thecutter 4 at the cutaway portion 54, it is necessary to turn the heel alittle in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. At the same time,the heel is maintained in contact with the uncut portion of the guard;near the portion 54. 1, the heel is shown, for clearness, a little belowthe lowest portion of the guard, being purposely shown moved down fromthe position that it occupied when part of the leather sheet 8 was beingcut by the cutter 4. During the cutting actlo i, however, the heel ismaintained in contact with the uncut lower portion of the guard, and isturned gradually, to conform to the exterior contour of the heel, suchas is indicated at 6. During this turning movement, the uncut lowerportion of the guard acts as a guide about which the heel is turned andalong which the heel is advanced, and acts to steady the heel, so thatit may be held. firmly by the operator against the guide and not be tornout of the operators hand by the action of thecutter. The small.dimension of the uncut lower portion of the guard greatly facilitatesthis combined turning and advancing movement.

The guard 52 is mounted upon a slide 56 that is adapted to slide in ahorizontally disposed groove 58. A spring 60, fastened at one end 62 toa stationary part of the machine, and at the other end 64 to the slide56, maintains the guard in its normal position, but the'guard may bemoved out of its normal position,in opposition to the force of thespring.

Many modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and allsuch are intended to be embraced within the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, acutter fast to the shaft so as to rotate therewith in a plane at rightangles to the shaft, a substantially plane guide for guiding an articleto the cutter, the shaft being nearly in but slightly inclined to theplane of the plane guide, whereby the cutter rotates nearly in butslightly inclined to a plane at right angles to the plane ofthe planeguide, and a member having a relatively small-dimensioned portionpositioned opposite to the effective cutting portion of the cutter at apoint near the plane guide, the smalldimensioned portion beingconstructed and arranged to be engaged by the article, whereby thearticle may be turned about the pivoting portion while it is guided bythe plane guide so as to be held firmly against nssnsso the plane guideduring the cutting action of the cutter, the shaft being substantiallyentirely to one side of the plane guide, whereby the article will notcontact with the shaft during its turning movement about thesmall-dimensioned portion.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, asubstantially horizontally disposed shaft, a cutter fast to the shaft soas to rotate in a substantially Vertically disposed plane, asubstantially vertically disposed plane guide, the bottom of a heelbeing adapted to contact with the plane guide to cause the said bottomof the heel to be guided to the cutter, the shaft being nearly in butslightly inclined to the cutting portion of the cutter at a point nearthe plane guide, the small-dimensioned portion being constructed andarranged to be engaged by the heel, whereby the heel may he turned aboutthe small-dimensioned portion While it is guided by the plane guide soas to be held firmly against the plane guide during the cutting actionof the cutter, the shaft being substantially entirely to one side of theplane guide, whereby the heel will not contact with the shaft during itsturning movement about the small-dimensioned portion. V

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, acutter fast to the shaft so as to rotate therewith in a plane at rightangles to the shaft, a stationary cutter, and a plane guide inclined tothe shaft and to the plane of rotation of the rotary cutter and theplane of the guide passing through the active portion of the stationarycutter, the bottom of a heel being adapted to contact with the planeguide to cause the said bottom of the heel to be guided to the cuttersin the plane of the guide, whereby the heel may be turned about thecutter duringits guiding without contacting with the shaft to permit oftrimming the heel by the rotary cutter and beveling of its said bottomby the stationary cutter.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, asubstantially horizontally disposed shaft, a cutter fast to the shaft soas to rotate in a substantially vertically disposed plane, asubstantially vertically disposed guide along which the bottom of a heelis adapted to contact and by which the heel is adapted to be guided tothe cutter, and a member having a relatively small-dimensioned pivotingportion positioned opposite to the effective cutting portion of thecutter at a point near the guide, the pivoting portion being constructedand arranged to be engaged by the heel, whereby the heel may be'turnedabout the pivoting portion while it is guided by the guide so as to beheld firmly against the guide during the cutting action of the cutter,the shaft being substantially entirely to one side of the guide, wherebythe heel will not contact with the shaft during its turning movementabout the pivoting portion.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, ananti-friction bearing for the shaft, a cutter fast to the shaft so as torotate therewith in a plane at right angles to the shaft, a stationarycutter, and a plane guide inclined to the shaft and to the plane ofrotation of the rotary cutter and the plane of the guide passing throughthe active portion of the stationary cutter, the bottom of a heel beingadapted to contact with the plane guide to cause the said bottom of theheel to be guided to the cutters in the plane of the guide, whereby theheel may be turned about the cutter during its guiding withoutcontacting with the shaft to permit of trimming the heel by the rotarycutter and beveling of its said bottom by the stationary cutter, andmeans for relatively adjusting the cutters and the plane guide.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a. shaft, ananti-friction bearing for the shaft, a cutter fast to the shaft so as torotate therewith in a plane at right angles to the shaft, a plane guide,the bottom of a heel being adapted to contact with the plane guide tocause the said bottom of the heel to be guided to the cutter, wherebythe heel may be turned about the cutter during its guiding to permit oftrimming the heel by the cutter, and a guard for the cutter, the guardterminating at a point near the plane guide so as not to prevent theoperation of the cutter upon the heel, the guard being constructed andarranged to be engaged by the heel during its turning movement, wherebythe heel Will be held firmly against the plane guide during the cuttingaction of the cutter.

7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, acutter fast to the shaft so as to rotate in a plane at right anglestothe shaft, a plane guide, the bottom of a heel being adapted tocontact with the plane guide to cause the said bottom of the heel to beguided to the cutter, whereby the heel may be turned about the cutterduring its guiding topermit of trimming the heel by the cutter, and asubstantially torusshaped guard for the cutter, the guard terminating ata point near the plane guide and being cut away at its terminal portionso as not to prevent the operation'of the cutter upon the heel, theguard being constructed and arranged to be engaged by the heel duringits turnin movement, whereby the heel will be held firmly against theplane guide during the cutting action of the cutter.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a planeguide, a cutter mounted upon the guide and projecting from the plane ofthe guide, whereby an article may be guided along the guide to thecutter, means for adjusting the cutter upon the guide, and means formaintaining the cutter in adjusted position upon the guide.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a planeguide, a cutter pivotally mounted upon the guideso as to project fromtheplane of the guide, whereby an article may be guided along the guide ato the cutter, means for pivotally adjusting the cutter, means foryieldingly maintaining the cutter in pivotally adjusted position, agage, and means for adjusting the gage to correspond to the adjustedposition of the cutter.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, ananti-friction bearing for the shaft, a cutter fast to the shaft so as torotate therewith in a plane at right angles to the shaft, a plane guide,and a cutter projecting from the plane of the guide, the bottom of aheel being adapted to contact with the plane guide to cause the saidbottom of the heel to be guided to the cutters in the plane of the guideand the cutters being so constructed and arranged as to trim the heeland bevel its said bottom.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, ananti-friction bearing for the shaft, a cutter fast to the shaft so as torotate therewith in a plane at right angles to the shaft, a plane guideinclined to the shaft and to the plane of rotation of the rotary cutter,a cutter projecting from the plane of the guide, the bottom of a heelbeing adapted to contact with the plane guide to cause the said bottomof the heel to be guided to the cutters in the plane of the guide,whereby the heel may be turned about the cutter during its guidingwithout contacting with the shaft to permit of trimming the heel by therotary cutter and beveling of its said bottom by the projecting cutter,a gage, means for adjusting the projecting cutter, means for adjustingthe gage to correspond to the adjusted position of the cutter, asubstantially torus-shaped guard for the cutter, the. guard terminatingat a point near the plane guide and being cut away at its terminalportion so as not to prevent the operation of the cutter upon the heel,means for adjusting the guard, and means for yieldingly maintaining theguard in adjusted position.

12. A machine of the class described havinclined to the shaft and to aplane at right angles to the shaft so as to guide an article to thecutter along a line at an angle to the shaft, and means for pivotallyadjusting the guide about an axis nearly parallel to the shaft.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, acutter fast to the shaft so as to rotate therewith, a guide inclined tothe shaft and to a plane at right angles to the shaft so as to guide anarticle to the cutter along a line at an angle to the shaft, the guidebeing provided with a proj ection, a frame having a groove for slidablyreceiving the projection, means for adjusting theguide on the frame, theprojection being adapted to slide in the groove to guide the adjustmentof the guide, and means for looking the guide in adjusted position.

14. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a shaft, acutter fast to the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft, a substantiallyplane guide for guiding an article to the cutter, the shaft being nearlyin but slightly inclined to the plane of the guide and substantiallyentirely to one side of the guide, whereby the" article may be turnedwhile it is guided without contacting with the shaft, and a stationarycutter the active portion of which is substantially in the plane of theguide for beveling the article while it is guided.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day ofJuly,

WVESLEY J SHAW.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,581,330, grantedApril 20, 1926, upon the application of esley J. Shaw, of Haverhill,Massachusetts, for an improvement in Heel-Trimming Machines, an errorappears in he printed specification requiring correction as follows:Page 2, line 64, @1215" 1, for the Word pivoting read smaZZ-dimensioned;and that the said Letters -E'atent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May A. D. 1926.

[SEAL] WM. A. KINN AN,

Acting Gowwnissz'one? of Patents.

